Fuel-igniter.



C. N. GRAFTON.

FUEL IGNITER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1o, 1914.y

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

me/nto@ THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTO-LITHO.. wASHlNblUN. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. GRAFTON, 0F OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR IO MAGIC FIRE STARTER COMPANY, OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY.

FUEL-IGNITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2e, 1914.

Application filed March 10, 1914. Serial No. 823,791.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. GRAFTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Davis and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Igniters, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fuel igniting device wherein the same can be placed upon the grate within a stove, furnace or the like after it has been saturated with oil so that on the lighting of said device the fire will be started by the burning of the fuel, thus obviating the use of kindling wood or other like material for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the inammable substance thereof is shielded in a manner to avoid the contact of the fuel therewith so as to avoid the sinothering of the flame when the device is lighted for starting the fire or the burning of the fuel held upon a grate within a stove, furnace or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the required amount of air will be supplied thereto so as to insure the proper burning thereof for the lighting of the re or the fuel and also to assist in spreading the flame when the device is lighted for quick firing in a stove, furnace or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is extremely simple in construction, possessing few parts, capable of being readily and easily assembled, and which is reliable and efficient in its purpose, durable, and also which is inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing z-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fuel igniter constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. t is' a view similar to Fig. 2, taken at right angles thereto.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

l Referring to the drawing in detail, the fuel ignitei comprises a two-part shell or casing, preferably of substantially spherical shape, and includes a cup-shaped body 10 and a. reticulated crown or top 11 which serves as a guard cap for protecting the absorbent filling or mass 12 held within the body 10, the filling being preferably asbestos, although any other suitable material may be used.

Formed on the crown or top 11 at the rim 13 thereof are internal bearing lugs 14 which rest upon the mouth edge of the body 10, and this crown or top 11 is of greater circumferential diameter than the diameter of the body so that air spaces 15 are provided at the point where the crown or top 11 fits onto the body 10, th'us permitting air to enter the spaces 15 for the combustion of the oil when saturating the filling 12 on the lighting of the device.

Fitted centrally in the body 10 is a tubular stem 16, the bore 17 of which opens through the said body 10 to form an air inlet, the tube being provided with apertures 18 communicating with the bore 17 so that air will pass therefrom into the filling 12 to assure the ignition and combustion of the oil when the filling 12 is saturated therewith. The crown or top 11 is formed with a central hole or opening 19 through which passes the tubular stem 16, which latter is formed with a flattened opposite end 20 closing the bore 17 at such point, and this flattened end is provided with an aperture 21 so that the device can be hung on a. nail or other support when not in use, and also permit the convenient placing of the device on to the grate within a stove, furnace or the like.

Mounted in and extending from the tubular stein 16 at diametrically opposite points within the shell are upwardly divergent tubular branches 22 which are formed with perforations 23 at intervals therein so that the air will be conveyed from the bore 17 in the stem laterally therefrom through the filling 12 and the outer open ends of the branches 22 which are exposed exteriorly of the filling 12 so that the flame when the device is ignited will be spread, thereby insuring the quick firing of the fuel.

ltity of coal has been placed in the fire box ofthe stove, furnace or the like, a lighted match is applied to the device, which ignites theoil contained therein, the proper combustion of the oil being effected by reason of the supply of air through the bore 17 in the stem of the said device, and the flame issuing therefrom will ignite the fuel for the firing of the same. Thus, it will be apparent the use of kindling wood or other like material will be obviated, and the device will enable the quick firing of the fuel when lighted.

The shell or casing is preferably made from metal, and likewise the stem is formed .from metal, although it is to be understood that any other suitable material may be employed in constructing the device.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of use of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

l/Vhat is claimed is l. A fuel igniter comprising a substantially bowl-like body having a hollow perforated stem, inflammable material. supported in the body, a reticulated crown carried f by the body and being of a size to provide an air space between it and the said material.

2. A fuel igniter comprising a substantially bowl-like body having a hollow perforated stem, inammable material supported in the body, a reticulated crown carried by the body and being of a size to provide an air space between it and the said material, and a flattened end formed on the stem and projectedvcentrally through the crown.

3. A fuel igniter comprising a substantially bowl-like body having a hollow perforated stem, inflammable material supported in the body, a reticulated crown carried by the body and vbeing of a size to provide an air space between it and the said material, a flattened end formed on the stem and projected centrally through the crown, the said hollow stem opening through the body at one end thereof.

4.. A fuel igniter comprising a substantially bowl-like body having a hollow perforated stein, inflammable material supported in the body, a reticulated crown carried by the body and being of a size to provide an air space between it and the said material, a flattened end formed on the stem and projected centrally through the crown, the said hollow stem opening through the body at one end thereof, and perforated tubular branches extending from the stem through the said material and having their open free ends exposed exteriorly thereof.

ln testimony whereof I aliix my` signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES N. GRAFTON.

Witnesses:

E. EDMoNsToN, Jr., O. PARKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

